The registration of building inspectors in England and Wales has exceeded 4,000, marking significant progress in the sector.
- A 13-week extension was granted for experienced inspectors to finalise their competency assessments, ending on 6th July 2024.
- As of 30th July 2024, the total of registered building professionals stood at 4,049, distributed across various classes.
- The Building Safety Regulator emphasised its commitment to a fair regulatory approach, ensuring effective building control through qualified inspectors.
- The profession is evolving with consistent standards and practices, promising better compliance and efficiency in building activities.
The number of registered building inspectors in England and Wales has recently crossed the 4,000 milestone, illustrating a noteworthy advancement facilitated by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). This increase aligns with the stipulations of the Building Safety Act 2022, mandating that professionals engaged in building control activities within these regions must register with the BSR, part of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
A temporary period extending over 13 weeks was allotted for experienced building inspectors to complete their competency assessments, culminating on the 6th of July, 2024. Following this timeframe, as of the 30th of July, a total of 4,049 building professionals were successfully registered. These registrations were categorised into distinct classes: Class 1 for trainees, Class 2 for registered building inspectors, Class 3 for specialists, and Class 4 for technical managers.
Ged Cooper, who leads the BSR’s professional standards for building control, expressed optimism regarding the ongoing increment in registrations. He noted the consistent success levels observed in Class 2 and 3 registrations and highlighted the significant proportion of Class 4 technical managers, asserting the expectation of this positive trend’s continuation.
The BSR, committed to being a fair and pragmatic regulator, has exhibited its support for the building control sector by offering extensions for competency assessments. This reflects their dedication to a supportive and equitable regulatory environment, essential for balanced operations. The requirement for building control bodies to seek regulatory counsel from Class 2 and 3 Registered Building Inspectors underscores the regulator’s focus on ensuring effective regulatory practices.
The building control profession is poised for transformative changes, steered by unified and consistent standards that render it an attractive career choice. Enhanced standards are anticipated to lead to improved adherence to building regulations, with the aspiration that such high standards become the norm rather than the exception. The projected improvement in the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of building control activities indicates a promising future for the profession.
The registration of building inspectors marks a significant step towards enhanced professionalism and regulatory compliance in the building sector.
